Experts Raise Alert Over Climate Change Impact

Stakeholders in the housing sector have raised the alert over the environmental disasters occasioned by the effect of climate change in the country, warning that the global trend was beginning to attain worrisome dimension in the nation. Speakers at the 2011 World Habitat Day celebration organised by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, agreed that the impact of the climate change on the environment is devastating.

The theme of this year’s commenmoration is “Cities and Climate Change”.

The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple in her address blamed the recent flooding which ravaged some parts of the country, including Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Lagos and Cross River States on the impact of climate change.She said: “

The issue of climate change and cities has suddenly become the concern of all countries, both developed and developing. Currently, nearly half of Nigeria’s population lives in urban and semi-urban areas, with the majority living in slums and sub-standard accommodation where exposures to the vagaries of climate are highest.

“In addition, organic morphology and poor land use offer little protection against numerous disasters triggered by climate change. Some of such unfortunate occurrences attributable

to climate change, and already manifesting in Nigeria includes drought, desert encroachment, rise in sea level, ocean surge, erosion and flooding.

The minister regretted that, “this year alone, flooding has repeatedly ravaged some parts of the country with catastrophic effect.”

According to her, “The growing magnitude and diversity of human activities have created complex land use patterns that have overwhelmed our city managers and gone ahead to foist serious climate change symptoms on the urban areas. Since the greatest impact of disasters resulting from climate change tend to begin and end in cities and practically all of us have afflictions with cities, we all share in the duty to tackle the problems of climate change.” ?

“Just as we cannot wish away cities where half of an estimated world population of 7 billion live and where wealth, culture, innovation and hope is produced, we must take specific steps to moderate activities in the cities in order to ameliorate the effect of climate change.

“Without doubt, the key to making the best out of the present situation transcends technological intervention and would involve deliberate attitudinal changes at individual as well as community levels. It is needful for every stakeholder to take cognisance of personal responsibilities and decisions that would ensure that cities are safer, healthier and conducive for habitation.

“We have come to the realization that the starting point of re-establishing order and creating cities free from environmental disaster in our rapidly urbanising country is to evolve a good policy framework to guide our present and future actions.

The minister reiterated the commitment of the administration to establish the mechanism for responding quickly to problems of climate change and to develop the capacity to tackle them sustainable.

Part of activities to mark the event was the presentation of the Draft Revised National Housing Policy and Urban Development Policy, a committee constituted by the minister upon assumption of the office.
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